Born 1960 in Helsinki, drummer, pianist, composer and jazz professor Jukkis Uotila lived in NYC 1979-84, has released eight CD’s under his own name and performed and/or recorded with Toots Thielemans, Randy Brecker, Joe Henderson, John Scofield, McCoy Tyner, Dave Liebman, Chet Baker, Joe Lovano, Jerry Bergonzi and Mike Stern among others. Jukkis was appointed the head of the Jazz department of Sibelius-Academy in 1986 and in 1994 bacame the first Professor of Jazz music in Scandinavia. He "single-handedly raised the academy into one of the best institutes of jazz education in Europe” (Finnish Jazz, 2002). Was awarded Finland’s prestigeous State Music Prize in 2011 with mention “Internationally the most respected Finnish jazz musician ever”. In recent years played drums with Tim Hagans, Joey Calderazzo, the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra and piano with Billy Cobham, Randy Brecker and Ignacio Berroa among others. - BIG BAND EXPERIENCE: -- the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra (since 1992 and continuing), the UMO orchestra of Finland (1986-93). Visits with other orchestras such as the NDR big band, WDR big band, Norrbotten big band, Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin big band, the SWR big band, the Bohuslän big band and the Swedish Radio jazz group among others. Big band writing can be heard on Jukkis Uotila & The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra – THE MUSIC OF JUKKIS UOTILA (KSJazz). On the release Jukkis composed and arranged everything and plays drums and piano. Music available on iTunes and CDBaby etc.